Efforts Underway in Tucson to Conserve Water through Turf Removal
In a proactive move to address water conservation, Tucson officials have embarked on a new initiative funded by federal resources. The project, aimed at replacing ornamental grass with desert-friendly landscaping, is backed by the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona, which channels federal funds from the American Rescue Plan.
James MacAdam, an administrator with Tucson Water, explained the project’s goals, highlighting the focus on eliminating non-essential grass areas, like those found in medians, that offer no real benefit to people or animals. This shift not only enhances the landscape’s suitability to the desert climate but also significantly reduces water usage.
The initiative kicks off with city-owned sites such as Fort Lowell Park. Here, officials have pinpointed 120,000 square feet of turf for removal, a figure that surpasses their initial estimation by more than double. “This park alone is saving 12 acre-feet of water per year,” MacAdam stated during an Earth Day event on April 22. He further noted, “We estimate there are 62 million square feet of irrigated turf in our service area. As much as 30% of that, or 18 million square feet, is estimated to be ornamental or non-functional.”
Fort Lowell Park is just one of four city parks involved in this effort. Additionally, the project allocates funds for rebates to encourage commercial and multi-family property owners to follow suit and switch to water-efficient landscaping.
Scheduled to continue through the following year, the project is poised to conserve approximately 2,000 acre-feet of water, equating to about 2% of Tucson’s annual water consumption.
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